Chapter 93 - 90: The Dejected Jin Meiting

Chapter 93: Chapter 90: The Dejected Jin Meiting

South Sea, Antique Shop Zero.

Daji returned to the antique shop, clutching the Compass, unsure of what to do.

She had forgotten to ask Jiang Chaosheng how to purify the Compass.

"What do I do? What do I do? My husband is waiting for me!"

Daji anxiously scanned the antique shop.

Jin Meiting hurried down the stairs.

"Welcome—"

Jin Meiting stopped mid-sentence, stunned.

’Is that... Daji?’

She was very jealous of Daji.

She was prettier and a better fighter.

Compared to Daji, she felt like a complete waste.

Jin Meiting thought for a moment, then decided to greet Daji anyway.

’What should I call her...’

After a moment’s thought, Jin Meiting spoke:

"Lady."

’Daji was once a Demon Consort who brought ruin to a nation. Calling her "Lady" should be fine, right?’

But to her surprise, Daji completely ignored her.

Daji strode toward the basement.

She remembered there was something terrifying in the basement. The last time she was here, it had even suppressed her Human Emperor Qi.

Seeing where Daji was headed, Jin Meiting quickly warned her:

"There’s a ward on the basement! You can’t go in there, you won’t be able to get in!"

But to everyone’s surprise, Daji only had to pause at the basement door for a few seconds before the great door slowly swung open!

Jin Meiting was dumbfounded.

’She... why can she get into the basement?’

’Isn’t that a place only the master can enter?’

’Could the master have given her some kind of special permission?’

At the thought, a burning sensation seared Jin Meiting’s stomach. The flames of jealousy nearly shot out of her eyes.

"CAW CAW CAW, how pathetic."

The Evil Crow had appeared at some point, perched on a bronze candelabra on the ceiling.

Jin Meiting looked up at it and frowned.

"What did you say?"

The Evil Crow chuckled darkly.

"Don’t think I can’t see what’s on your mind.

Let me give you some advice: don’t mess with that fox.

You’re just a little Succubus. She could turn you to dust with a flick of her finger."

Jin Meiting clenched her fists.

’The master didn’t take me with him on this mission. Is it because I’m useless?’

’That’s right, I’m too weak. How can I possibly compare to Daji?’

Jin Meiting said in a low voice,

"Help me. How do I win his favor?"

The Evil Crow paused, as if it had just heard the funniest joke in the world.

"HAHAHAHAHA, you want to compete with Daji for a man?

What gives you the right?

Your Demon Charm Art?

A single, casual glance from Daji is more potent than you trying with all your might!"

Jin Meiting flew into a rage out of shame and anger.

"Are you mocking me?"

The Evil Crow shook its head.

"I just want you to be useful, not some decorative mascot.

I’ve been watching this Jiang Chaosheng fellow. He’s a complete pragmatist. He likes whoever is useful.

Or maybe he doesn’t see anyone as a person or a companion at all. He just likes using whoever is convenient."

Jin Meiting said,

"He didn’t take you on this mission either, did he?"

The Evil Crow chuckled darkly.

"Of course I’m useless too!

And I’d rather be useless!

When we contained the Nine-tailed Demon Core, I backed down at the critical moment. I knew then that Jiang Chaosheng would never use me again.

Heheheh, I’m not trying to win his favor anyway. I like being a useless thing. It’d be best if he never used me for the rest of my life.

I spent my whole life as a carefree idler at Luoyang Slope. After coming to Antique Shop Zero, I became just another wage slave.

Originally, I wanted to properly assist any Manager who came along and help them become the overlord of this world.

Unfortunately, not a single Manager could last here for three hundred years.

Gradually, I gave up. The Managers were all a bunch of lost causes."

Jin Meiting’s eyes turned into hearts, Demonic Qi pulsed around her, and she spoke with killing intent:

"How dare you speak so disrespectfully of the master!"

The Evil Crow was silent for a moment.

"He is indeed a bit different. Worth observing a while longer."

At this, the Evil Crow suddenly sneered.

"But do you know what?

The only unchanging trait of human beings is that they are always changing!

Jiang Chaosheng is very young. Who knows if one day he’ll grow tired, get bored, and decide to seek death?

Don’t think I’m being too cynical; this is all stuff I’ve seen with my own eyes.

The past Managers could never withstand their inner loneliness. They always grew weary of living."

Jin Meiting frowned.

’No one, not even an animal, is allowed to speak ill of the master!’

The Evil Crow gazed toward the door and said faintly,

"I want to assist a powerful individual in becoming a true Emperor of their generation.

To be honest, I have high hopes for him.

If he is truly the one I have waited so long for, I will retrieve my Hiding Device."

The Evil Crow glanced at Jin Meiting.

"Don’t look at me like this. If I, Master Hei, were to get my Hiding Device back, I’d become the Evil Ancestor who commands all the Ghosts in the Human World!"

Jin Meiting sized up the Evil Crow.

"You? A pervert who steals girls’ clothes every day? You, the Evil Ancestor?"

A flicker of loneliness, almost imperceptible, passed through the Evil Crow’s eyes.

"Because... it’s boring.

Do you really think living for a thousand years is something to be happy about?"

Jin Meiting didn’t understand.

She was only twenty-three.

The Evil Crow glanced at Jin Meiting and said,

"As your friend, let me give you a piece of advice.

Stop trying to flaunt your beauty at Jiang Chaosheng. You need to do something that will make him respect you."

Jin Meiting lowered her beautiful eyes.

"I don’t know what to do."

The Evil Crow cursed,

"You brainless idiot!

Doesn’t the term ’Cleaner Fish’ give you any ideas?!

No wonder Jiang Chaosheng would rather hang out with a bunch of Corpse Ghosts than bother with you!"

For the first time, Jin Meiting really looked at the Evil Crow.

In her eyes, the Evil Crow had just been an unreliable, lecherous old pervert.

It seemed this ancient monster, who had lived for a thousand years, possessed some kind of wisdom.

Jin Meiting mulled over the Evil Crow’s words, but she couldn’t figure out what it was getting at.

The answer was right in front of her, yet it was hazy, impossible to see clearly, let alone grasp.

’Become stronger?’

’Even if I did, could I ever be stronger than Daji?’

’Create an organization for the master?’

’But I don’t have any Netherworld Water. How could I possibly create an Extraordinary Organization for him?’

’An organization of ordinary humans?’

’Forget it. Xia Li has who-knows-how-many employees and can casually call in assassins from overseas.’

Jin Meiting lowered her head.

"Can you teach me?"

The Evil Crow sneered.

"I’ve said this much and you still don’t get it? Why should I teach you?"

Jin Meiting gave a sad smile.

"Because I’m the only one here who’s willing to talk to you."

The Evil Crow paused.

"You have a point. In that case, I’ll give you a hint in one word."

Jin Meiting’s eyes widened, waiting for the Evil Crow to speak.

The Evil Crow uttered that one word:

"Religion."

Jin Meiting gasped.

She understood!

...

From the moment she entered the basement, Daji felt waves of terrifying pressure wash over her.

She explored cautiously, heading toward the Taboo Sculpture.

A sudden gust of wind from an unknown source made the candlelight flicker. A yellow curtain billowed up, revealing the White Jade Skull sitting upright on the Golden Throne, cradling a black box.

Just a single glance at the White Jade Skull sent a soul-shaking pressure crashing down on Daji.

She took a deep breath and held out the Compass.

"Excuse me, Your Excellency, could you possibly purify this item?"

"CREAK... CREAK CREAK..."

The White Jade Skull slowly lifted its head, its empty eye sockets staring at Daji.

Though it was looking at Daji, a strange and vast power surged from its body.

The Compass was instantly purified.

Daji was overjoyed.

"Thank you, Your Excellency!"

After speaking, she looked up, her expression one of astonishment.

Although the White Jade Skull’s eye sockets were empty, she could feel its gaze.

It was a look of pity.

A look of sorrow for her future fate.